New Wip

needs color. Look careful at this image there is a lot of color. You're not limited to actually one color but looking like it. We are so use to thinking shadow is a shade of a color that we forget to actually look at them.
Hope this helps.
-- mary ellen anderson

Thanks for the input Mary. . . I appreciate it. . . I am planning on adding color, really, but at this point in the game I'm trying to get it all mapped out, I guess you could call it. . . Never having tried grisaille before, to be honest, I'm not really sure WHAT I'm doing. . . LOL. . . That's why I posted it here. . . I knew someone here would have some advice for me on how to do it. . . Thanks again

Steve

Steve,
You're doing great. The only other advice I'd offer right now is depth of field. The image below was a very old work but think shows the field depth. You don't want these guys to look like they are presented against a curtain (I assume) but a micro focus of nature. Just something to keep in mind as you move along.
-- mary ellen anderson

are you doing the flemmish style of 7 layers or just the grisaille? Here is my render of the 7 layer Flemish technique




My only suggestion if your just doing grisaille is make your own greys using complimentary colors. I would also like to suggest using warm and cool greys for the 3 d effects.

OMG! the only other person I know also doing the 7 layers! This guy Alexi Anatov is the guy I learned it from. Hes kinda weird but he is good!
http://youtu.be/GKwOLBycnCM

.

@Mary Ellen Anderson. . . Thanks for the suggestion about the depth of field. . . I've been looking at the background and trying to figure out how to not have it looking like a backdrop. . . Hopefully, I can figure it out. . .

@Melissa Herrin. . . Yeah, planning on doing the seven layers. . . Tomorrow after it has dried some, I'm going back to do a second grisaille layer to make my corrections and add some details into the heron and the limb it's standing on. . . As far as the warm and cool grays go, that is where I have a slight problem. . . It's really hard for me to see the difference between warm and cool when it comes to grays. . . but I will try to remember to do what I can on that. . . But, I'm hopefully going to be able start glazing the color in, in the next few days. . .

http://www.artpapa.com/html/Free_Lessons_Pink_Rose.html

This is exactly where I learned it from. Its a free lesson and man have I gotten a lot out of it. It tells you step by step exactly how to do the layers and the colors used. Rembrandt used this method later in his career which is where I got the desire to learn from it.

On the greys. Just remember warm colors pop and cool colors recede. The main two colors I use for grey is equal parts burnt sienna and french ultramarine blue. Use more french ultramarine you get a cooler gray. Use more burnt Sienna you get a warmer grey.

Oh, bless your heart, Melissa. . . I really appreciate the link, but the info on the grays will help. . . Who knows maybe I'll even learn to see the difference. . LOL. . . God, it's a pain to be colored blind when it comes to grays. . . I can tell you what kind of blue is in the grass, or sky. . . I can even mix up my own siennas. . . but them danged ol' grays mess me up every single time. . LOL . . .

I am from the south I know what "bless your heart" means...lol..

Steve, Melissa,

Thanks for thinking to start this thread and for posting the links, in particular Melissa's last link.
It is a great read.

I am up against these issues in a Photoshop design. I dont want this thread to stray away
from Steve's topic, but this is related.

The article on 7 layer painting filled in a lot of info for me.
Hightlights are warmer and shadows are cooler, generally.

I have my forms in 21 layers. I need highlights and shadows to create depth of field.
I add layers in blend modes to add contrasts, light and dark.

I needed that article to know to add color to the contrasts. I was really getting bugged
that something was missing. The layer opacity is highly controlled. for each blend mode.
I add more and more layer blend modes from the bottom layers to the top layers. I now know that
more translucent layers are better in some ways.

The article on 7 layers makes my creative needs far clearer to me. Thanks.

My current PS file is over 2 GB. I am in all working on some 200 layers. The contrasting process
is just beginning so the 200 layers is only a reasonable estimate of how much work will be there.

I am also learning to use the Wacom board for the first time.
This is a great new experience. A pure pleasure to use, it is very exacting
and intuitive.

Thanks again for bring up this topic. It has been a huge help.

Dave

David. . .

As a large format photographer, your comment caught my interest. . . I cannot comprehend 200 layers. . . even in photography. . . Probably one reason why I stick to film. . . LOL The learning curve to do anything in PS totally keeps me away. . . You guys that use it must have gone to school for it. . . I played with a free trial of it a few years ago and gave up after a few days. . . So as far as I'm concerned you guys need a tip of the old cowboy hat for what you're able to do. . .

Oh, BTW. . . Melissa. . . I'm an old Texas boy. . . so. . . so do I. . . LOL

Melissa, thanks for the info on Alexi....he is fabulous!!

David Im so glad it helped! Holy crap! 200 layers? That is going to be awesome to see. I cant wait.
Anne. You are the only one that I have met that has my spelling of middle name. awesome! Ive followed Alexi for years and he is by far one of the most indepth teachers on the 7 layer.

http://www.artpapa.com/html/Free_Lessons_Green_apple.html

Here is another tutorial on the 7 layer. Hes doing a green apple here.

Ok I got it Steve on the grey thing. Get someone to help you mix up a batch of cool grey and label it. Do the same for the warm grey and store the labeled batches for the future.. whoohoo. bless my heart.

Melissa,

Each time you make a new form you have a layer. Each time
you put up a blend layer, again more layers. These layers are
fragments of the whole.

It is not exactly more work. It is far more control.

The file size is well over 2 GB, so far.

Dave

BTW, In PS you add solid blend modes and then lower the opacity. It is counter intuitive.

You also start from the bottom layer and move up the chain of layers. That way you are not seen
to be coloring outside the lines into the layers above. Again not so intuitive at first.

Dave

Thats all greek to me David. I know nothing of digital anything other than reduce noise. lol.

I would rather not comment any further. This is Steve's thread.

Just watching a bunch of how to videos. I need me some more education.

I keep doing it all wrong. Now I am learning why.

Dave